Horyu-ji Temple, Nara
Our Nara trip commenced by a visit to the Horyu-ji temple, acclaimed to be the very first national heritage of Japan. And the moment we stepped in, we could see exactly why!
Situated in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture of Japan and spread in an area of 187,000 sq mtr of land, Horyu-ji temple (Temple of the Flourishing Law of Buddhism) is huge and dedicated to a statue of Buddha literally meaning ‘Arrival as a healer’. Besides being a place of prayer, the temple today is globally renowned for housing the world’s oldest surviving wooden structures which shed ample of light on a few significant pages from a rich book of Japanese history.
Chu-mon middle gate, built in 607
As we passed through the middle temple gate, all my eyes could see were old wooded historical buildings and structures strewn all around, all of them promising enough to take me back to an era gone by. As someone who loves delving into myths, legends and stories, it was easy for me to fall in love with this place and the wonderful guiding company in Sarah, cosmos and a local guide only made it so much more easier.
Old wooden columns in the temple
The entire temple precinct is divided into two parts - the Sai-in in the west and the To-in in the east, each containing notable places like the Kondo hall, the temple's five-story pagoda, the octagonal remarkable Yumedono Hall, etc. Together, we did a lot of hopping, around the premises trying to make the best of the temple precincts in the time available to us.
Kondo (Main Hall), Western part
This is the main hall in the temple that gives you a glimpse into the temple's history. The Horyu-ji temple and a Buddhist statue was originally a wish of Emperor Yomei as a prayer for his recovery from an illness. Sadly enough, that desire was never to be fulfilled and he died soon after. However, his son - Emperor Shotuku kept his father's wish alive by building a temple and a statue of Buddha, the same one that we see enshrined in the Kondo hall today.
The Kondo hall was dark and when a few rays slid in to light up the various enshrined images, the best-known is the Shaka triad,
the splendor was magnificent!
Goju-no-to (Five Storey Pagoda), Western part
Just besides the Kondo hall is the five storey pagoda celebrated as the oldest surviving structure in the world.
The Kondo hall (left) and the five storey pagoda (right)
As I stood underneath this massive structure, Goju-no-tu, 32.45 mtrs tall,
I felt torn so as to what of it to admire –
The intricate beauty of tall structure or the fact that it such an antique.
The structure was equally impressive and daunting, both at the same time!
Yumedono Hall or The Hall of Visions, Eastern part
Yumedano Hall
Located at the heart of the temple complex, the hall of visions houses beautiful life size statue of Prince Shotuku dating back to the eight century, believed to be a manifestation of Kuse Kannon. People pray for the peace of his soul here.
Other Places to see inside the temple -
1. Shoryo-in, Hall of Prince Shotoku’s soul
Hall of Prince Shotoku's soul
Built in the in the 13th century, this place houses the statues of Prince Shotoku along with a few more people associated with him. We did not go inside but just ringing the bell hanging outside gave a unique sense of peace.
2. Daiko-do great lecture hall, Western Part
Daiko-do hall
Daiko-do hall was originally built in 925 as a place for monks to practice their Buddhist studies and a place where memorial services could be conducted. Unfortunately, it was burnt down when lightening struck and had to be reconstructed in 990.
3. Gallery of Temple Treasures
Just moments after walking in here, I realized the place indeed stays true to its name. The gallery is a vast treasure house of valuable and ancient Japanese culture, arts and crafts very carefully preserved within its walls. Spanning an impressive journey through the long history of Horyuji, the items on display include miniature pagodas, various murals and other historical treasures. Photography is not allowed inside.
-- Kudara Kannon do (The Kudara Kannon Hall), Eastern part
Located inside the gallery, was an image that was so mystical and impactful that it has stuck in my mind till date.
The Kudara Kannon Hall (in the gallery of temple treasures) houses a slender and elegantly graceful Buddhist statue of the Kudara Kannon. He holds a healing potion in his right hand and a blessing in his left, which says - Come to me, I will heal you. As I stared into his deeply compassionate eyes, I could feel a strange aura envelop my body. And I could feel a surcharge of positivism flow in my heart... as if, it were pouring straight out of the healing pot right into my soul.
We spent a few quiet minutes in the hall simply staring at the powerful image. This undoubtedly, for me, formed the highlight of the Horyu-ji temple. However, sadly, photography was prohibited inside the hall.
Besides all of the above, Horyu-ji temple had a lot in it's complex grounds still to be seen and savored.
A stone slab in the temple premises
But, after a lot of walking and good exploring around for around 3 hrs, we decided to move on to our next place in the itinerary.
Tips for Travellers:
1. The place is vast, both geographically and historically, so take care not to cram too much into your itinerary lest you exhaust time for the other spots in the city.
2. You need a lot of time and energy if you wish to go for the entire temple tour but the place is so deeply soaked in history that a small tour is also enough to get a gist of the place.
How to reach:
Horyu-ji is located about 12 km outside of central Nara. One can catch a train from
JR Nara Station and take the frequently departing Yamatoji Line to Horyuji
Station. From there, it is a 20 minute walk or 5 minute
bus ride to the temple.
Temple Timings: 8:00 to 17:00 (until 16:30 from early November to late February)
Fees: 1000 Yen.
